Leonel FernáNdez Meets with the 2014 Meritorious Students at FUNGLODE

The former President of the Dominican Republic and President of Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE) received the visit of the nine "2014 Meritorious Students" on Wednesday. They are high school students of Dominican descent who have achieved the highest academic scores at New York schools.

The students have had a series of meetings in the country with personalities from the various walks of national life, as part of the
award that Dominican authorities in New York City presented them in recognition of their academic achievements.

While visiting FUNGLODE, the students toured its facilities and the Juan Bosch Library, where they attended the screening of the institutional video of FUNGLODE and the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD). Natasha Despotovic, Director of GFDD, offered them a presentation on both institutions and their history.

The
"2014 Meritorious Students" visiting the Dominican Republic are: Raynorah Dominguez, Sonia Reyes, Kiara Denisse Molina, Anthony Cepeda, Kimberly Fernández, Andrys Tavarez, Patricia Santana, Mely Argentina Arias, Katherine Dominguez and Lianka Marcely García Tejada.

Representing FUNGLODE / GFDD were: Mrs. Despotovic; Yamile Eusebio, Director of GFDD New York office, and Semiramis de Miranda, Director of GFDD Projects and ICT. The students were also
accompanied by a consular commission made of Luis Lithgow, Dominican Consul in New York, institution that organized the visit to the country; Cecilia Santana de Baez, Vice Consul; Xiomara Payano, Head of Protocol; Mónica Lockhart, Meritorious Student Program Coordinator; and, José Polanco, Special Assistant to the Consul General.

Former President Fernández spoke with each of the students and, at the end of the meeting, he welcomed the presence of a representation of the
Dominican talent in New York. He urged them to successfully complete their professional careers, and told them that he expects them at FUNGLODE to receive the diplomas that will recognize them as professionals.